Tornado!

We had a ton of storms yesterday. Lots of rain, thunder, and lightening. For once, I got lucky and I actually landed up commuting when it wasn’t horrible out and got home pretty dry. I was nearly done with evening “cat chores” when the radio announced there were three of four tornadoes sited. One was destined to reach a neighborhood very close to mine in ten minutes.

What to do? Of course it wasn’t my neighborhood, but it was close enough that did I really want to take that risk? Not like I could manage to get eight cats downstairs quickly. So, I sprang into action (and if you knew me, you’d know just how ludicrous the idea of me “springing” into anything is.)

I finished giving Afer her sub-q fluids, then dished out their food. Why would I choose to feed my cats at this moment? Easy – so they’d stay put, in the kitchen, and I didn’t have to chase them all over the house.
I grabbed one (Rumpelmintz) and carried her downstairs. Food fell from her mouth as we rushed down. Fortunately, I have one foster room vacant, so in she went.

Next went Omaha, my brave little man.

Back upstairs and grabbed another (Ralphie). Ralph’s more of a challenge as he’s terrified of being picked up – something we’ve been working on. I got as far as the stairway before he started to panic – was able to put him on the ground and adjust to scruffing him and get him down and in the room.

Repeated with Studley, Kitty.com, Louie, Afer, and finally Jellybean. I grabbed food dishes as well when I could.

Jellybean screamed and growled and hid under the cat tree. I grabbed a carrier from elsewhere in the basement and was able to get her inside so at least she wasn’t stressing about other cats checking her out.

Afer climbed the cat tree and hung out and checked things out and, once Jellybean was situated in the carrier, took a nap under the cat tree.

Rumpelmintz was grumpy.

Louie bounced around in the windowsill, etc.

Studley and Ralph ate all the food.

We sat down there 45 minutes, then repeated the whole process in reverse. This time, I could use the carrier to move Jellybean and Ralphie. I think sixteen trips up and down the stairs qualifies as “step aerobics”.

I stayed up late, praying the rain would stop and my basement would not flood – and I did get lucky and the basement is still dry. No repeat of the Great Floods of 2007 – yet.